# Mr. McBryde — A Passage to India character guide

> Mr. McBryde in A Passage to India by E. M. Forster.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** McBryde, XVIII Mr. McBryde

**First appearance:** 0006-iv

## Snapshot

The District Superintendent of Police, a reflective cynic whose courteous demeanor conceals a fatalistic theory that all Indians are born criminals.

## Who they are

McBryde is the most educated and self-aware of Chandrapore's officials, a man of unhappy marriage and settled pessimism who receives Aziz with unnerving gentleness. His philosophy, that climate determines character and natives south of latitude thirty cannot help themselves, lets him treat the accusation as inevitable rather than shocking. He becomes the instrument through which the novel's central charge is processed, and his calm certainty is more chilling than any bully's rage.

## In the story

### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_passage_to_india_se/chapters/xvii)

Fielding hopes to reason with McBryde, whom he considers sensible and cool-headed.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_passage_to_india_se/chapters/xviii)

The District Superintendent of Police who detains Aziz and discusses the case with Fielding.

### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_passage_to_india_se/chapters/xxii)

His wife bids Adela goodbye, representing the Anglo-Indian social circle that now envelops her.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_passage_to_india_se/chapters/xxiv)

Prosecutes the case with contempt for the 'inferior race,' presenting evidence including the field-glasses and a plan of the caves.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_passage_to_india_se/chapters/xxviii)

Visits the reported tombs of Mrs. Moore and observes the beginnings of a cult; chooses not to irritate it.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_passage_to_india_se/characters/mcbryde
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_passage_to_india_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_passage_to_india_se/characters